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 Post subject: Perfluoroalkyls
PostPosted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:34 pm 
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Perfluoroalkyls
Perfluoroalkyls, which are chemicals used to keep grease from leaking through fast food wrappers, are being ingested by people through their food and showing up as contaminants in blood.

Perfluoroalkyls are stable, synthetic chemicals that repel oil, grease, and water. They are used in surface protection treatments and coatings for packages.

The specific chemicals studied were polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), which are the breakdown products of the perfluorinated carboxylic acids used in coating the food wrappers.

How might I be exposed to perfluoroalkyls?•Breathing air contaminated with these substances. Ingestion of contaminated dust may also occur.
•Drinking water or touching contaminated soil near facilities that may have released these substances to the environment.
•Contaminated food can be also an important source of exposure. Perfluoroalkyls have been found in breast milk, which can be a source of exposure for babies.
•Carpets treated with perfluoroalkyls can be an important source of exposure for children.
•Workers in facilities that make or use perfluoroalkyls can be exposed to higher amounts and have increased levels of these chemicals in their blood.


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... blood.aspx
http://patientsville.com/toxic/perfluoroalkyls.htm
http://findinfoworld.com/search/perfluoroalkyls/
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/tox ... ?toxid=237
http://www2.fluoridealert.org/Pollution ... due-Oct-30


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 Post subject: Re: Perfluoroalkyls
PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:44 pm 
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Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 8:48 pm
Posts: 48
I work for one of the major fluorosurfactant manufacturers in the U.S.
Let me correct some of your statements.

Perfluoroalkyls include a huge group of chemicals, not just repellency based products.

One of the major groups is the key ingredient to successful class B foams that are the only way to effectively fight a hydrocarbon fire. Without perfluoroalkyls, a gasoline fire would just have to burn itself out!

The repellency additives include the phosphate esters, acrylics and urethane based perfluoroalkyls. Their use includes carpet protection, fabric protection, solid surface protection (grout sealers), and paper protection, the most susceptible potential for the common consumer- Microwave Popcorn Bags. If you have eaten microwave popcorn in the last 10 years you have a high chance if having injested PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). Don't forget your dog's (and cat's) exposure based on the grease proof coating on his dry food bag! If you buy clothes with any advertised "Water or Oil repellency", it likely is coated with these (Hello GoreTex, Stainmaster, the stain blocker sprayed on that couch you just purchased...).
The EPA has agreements with the major manufacturers including the biggest in size and emmission in the U.S- Dupont, that they will voluntarily eliminate PFOA by 2015.

PAP's are not breakdown products of a carboxylic acid based perfluoro, just the opposite. PAP's and all perfluoros can breakdown into a perfluorinated carboxylic acid. The key is using products with the perfluoro chain length less than a C6 now termed "Short Chain".

As described above, the major exposure opportunity is ingestion (food wrapper residues), dermal from sitting your baby on new carpet or recently treated carpet. Inhalation potential is low due to their very low vapor pressure.

The good news is the levels in blood serum showed PFOA and PFOS decreases between 2000 and 2006. The industry is converting these "long chain" PFOA containing products to the short chain options as fast as they technically can while making sure your products still perform to your requirements.

See below for EPA articles:

http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pfoa/


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